Looked to him with a smile before closing her eyes "The being in this house is no longer my brother, he is vengful because I refused to run with him" she say gently "Of course I would miss my home and Ai... but still, we are treated like slaves by our own family members" she say quietly, her eyes looked hurt when she said that sentance

Letting out a sigh "Who or whatever attacked your tribe will not attack you... I believe it might have been the vengeful spirits of 'marked' Tengu, wishing to show those who done them harm how it felt" she say standing "The world should be filled with color... I don't want you wearing dark colors, because Kaito says you're lower than him or because your marked..." she her voice showing tenderness

"In my opinion you are more a civilized person than Kaito" she walked to the door "If we are running, we should do it tonight with Ai Sempai and Kaito San are asleep... though I am unsure if they will try and track us down... after all, they see us as lower than them" she say with a warm smile, she brought her hand out for him to take "We are two strands of the same thread Yuu, don't forget that"

Yuu took a hold of Toshi's hand, and an eerie sensation washed over him. He knew the bond between them grew stronger as they learned more about each other and supported one another, and he nodded in agreement with Toshi's words. However, he wasn't all too sure he agreed with having to wear bright colors, since his dull colored clothing did help him when he wanted to blend in with the scenery and hide his existed from those who would want to harm him, "Then we spend today making preparations for our departure?"

((want to do an epic time hop? xD))

Smiled as her hand was taken "I think perhaps the colors should be duller when we leave... as not to draw attention to ourselves, but still brighter than what you where wearing" she say gently walking out the room, she could feel there bond growing, he protected her and she was doing her best to do the same for him

(Sure why not)

-----------------------------------------------

Evening
-------

Toshi came out of her room when she was sure Kaito and Ai where both asleep her heart was pounding, she could only imagine what would happen if they where caught leaving. She wore a single layer dark blue kimono, she wore a bag that moved over her right shoulder that had a change of clothes for them both, a map, a plate for each, a cup each, a teapot, a few books, some food and some money

Silently she moved to Yuu's room and knocked "Yuu" she whispered, it was so quiet you would have though she hadn't spoken, she stood there waiting for him in the darkness, she hoped he hadn't changed his mind, though she would understand if he did, it was safe here, they didn;t have to worry about being singled out by the world; although the other edge of that sword was that they got beat by there family members

Yuu was wide awake, nervous about all the things that could go wrong. He was gnawing his bandaged fingers for comfort while he was sitting in the center of the room. Then, he heard knocking on the door of the room, which he figured to be Toshi, so he stood up and walked to it so he could open the door. Once he was there, he looked at Toshi and stepped out, quietly closing the door behind him. Then he blinked at the bag, tempted to carry the thing out of habit, "You should let me carry that."

Toshi smiled nervously seeing him "Ready?" her hand went out to take his "I'm scared, how about you?" she say whispering, she took one last look around the house, her eyes seeming hurt at the though of leaving it "Thank you for protecting me through life and death... I'll return one day with Yuu." she say to the household bowing

Standing she looked to Yuu "I'll be fine, though I would be willing to share the burden, neither of us should take it all... Agreed" she say whispering before walking to the door

"Agreed," Yuu nodded as he followed closely behind Toshi. The experience of leaving was familiar, as how he ran away the first time from his home, except the fear of the one he was running from wasn't there after reflecting on Toshi's words. So long as he had faith that the intent of the attacker was for the vengeance of the marked, he was safe from them, and so was Toshi. The only ones they had to worry about were Ai and Kaito, but even then he felt that they wouldn't bother to go out of their ways just to go out and drag them back. And besides, it would be a good experience for them to see what things were like outside. Toshi had never left for over 200 years, so the world beyond must have changed dramatically compared to what she was used to, and Yuu had only walked through streets and seen buildings but never really paid attention to the details.

((ghost girl and tengu boy wreak havoc on modern-day Japan hur hur ewe))

Walked through the forest stroking each tree along the way as if they where dear to her. She was scared her slow walking proved that but she was moving quicket than inside the house in case Kaito or Ai where awake, it have been an intrest meal when everyone was introduced to Ai and suprisingly Ai took it better than she had suspected but then again he was much like Kaito

Exiting she looked to the nearest town "Should we go there?" she asked, she had no idea what to expect, but she knew together they could make it through everything, though her hand tightened on his "What if they come for us?" her voice sounding scared, we was wondering if this was really the right thing, though she was more worried that she would be harmed the villiagers

((how long does it take to travel 100 miles by walking? *too lazy to think about it*. I'm thinking that the forest is magical xD. And it made the distance shorter for them <3))

Yuu noticed the tightening grip and moved closer to Toshi. "I think we should go there. Whatever is there is better than what's behind us," he said referring to Ai and Kaito, "But I think we should keep moving, to make it more difficult for them to find us if they do decide to leave." Then his grip tightened as well. He wasn't too sure what to expect or how to react to the situations that were ahead of them, but so long as both of them looked like a normal human couple then they should at least blend in to some degree. He nodded, taking a few steps forward and hoping that Toshi would do the same and walk with him instead of him accidentally dragging her.

Prevented Yuu from moving, her hand going to the the tree behind her "I request a favor Miyu..." she say gently watching as the tree glowed a faint green she smiled hearing her words had been heard "Please move us to a tree by the villiage over there" she say with a love, Yuu would't have seen from her.

The next thing they would know they would be a few paces from the gate "Thank you Miyu" she say happily knowing her friend could hear her for a few moments more. She then allowed herself to be lead into the city "Yuu, perhaps we should find somewhere to stay... I don't think it will be safe outside" her voice showed she was frightened she had never left the comfort of her own home and it's surrounding forest

Yuu flinched, surprised from the sudden change of scenery. He still wasn't quite used to having direct contact with magic, and a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face and landed on his clothes. Yuu rubbed his head, "You're right... This is the time of the day when the tricksters come out to play...or worse.."

Normally people who were closest to the border of their communities were the ones who were easier targets. He had heard about it before, not only from his own kind but from many other species. From his experience, tengu and ogres were the worst ones for humans to encounter. Even though he was a tengu himself, he could only imagine that the other tengu would butcher him if he was trespassing on their territory, which he remembered just recently and now he was scared.

His eyes went around, searching for any sign of a place to stay. It was nothing compared to his village, where people could just see what each building was offering by what items they had in the front. He did see signs, but he never did learn how to read, and somehow he felt defeated because he knew that the lines formed into words that meant something. He pointed at the signs, "Toshi, maybe those things with the...pictures on them might help."

Toshi looked to him when he spoke "Perhaps we should go further in, to be on the safe side... there will be more light and guards" scooting towards one of the signs "You can't read?" she sounded suprised, but then again with the up bringing he had she couldn't be compleatly suprised "Those are for unsavory places" she say looking away from them

walking into further into the city she seen other people out and moved closer to Yuu, some where not wearing what she would have classed as proper clothing as she was use to kimono's "We are near a place that deals with alcohol... we must move away from here" she say her voice showed urgency

Just as she began to move, a drunk group came towards them stagering and lauging about nothing of importance "Wh...at... a... pr...reeeetyyyy giiiirl" she quickly moved behind Yuu and clenched his top

Yuu had experienced this before at dinner parties at his family's place. People getting drunk and not acting like themselves, but he understood that this type of situation would make Toshi feel threatened since the words were directed at her. He had always tolerated such behavior but..with Toshi around, especially when she was hiding, he had to do something, "Yes, she is pretty... But I think we should be going.."

Yuu quickly picked up Toshi and held her close to himself while he ran. He hoped that he wasn't creating too much of a commotion while doing so, because that would be one of the last things he wanted, "I'm sorry Toshi."

Was picked up, a blush coming to her cheeks as he complimented how she looked, he was unsure if it was just because the men had said it of if her really ment it either way it made her feel special. "Thank you Yuu" she say gently, leaning up to kiss his cheek

she began to look around at the signs around them and pointed to one "Jade Leaf Teahouse and Inn" she say happily just enjoying hugging into him "This place should be fine Yuu... and Yuu if you like, I'll teach you to read and write, it's only right of a noble" she say smiling, in the hopes to boost his confidence in himself, to show him he was in fact better than what he had been told he had been

Yuu was too busy running at the moment to listen to all the things Toshi was saying, but he understood the finger pointing and went right into the shop, trying to catch his breath as he set Toshi down. He didn't want to go back outside to see if he had attracted bad people and tugged at Toshi to go deeper into the building together, "This place is good, right?"

Didn't have to be pulled she contently followed behind him, though seeing a woman bowing she would do the same knowing Yuu would follow suit. The woman was in her late fiftys, her long grey hair was tied back in a tight bun with a peach ribbon, she would be wearing a matching single layer kimono "Welcome to the Jade Leaf Teahouse my name is Sasaki Cho. How can I assist you honorable guests" her voice was polite and respectful as one would expect from a buisness woman, her hazle eyes looking to Yuu

Toshi looked at the woman "Please forgive me, but we have travlled a lot this evening. Where we are from, it is the woman's job to handle such matters, not the males" her voice in return was just as polite and respectful. Cho smiled and nodded slightly "Of course" she believed what Toshi had said because it was the truth, toshi came from a time where the woman would tend to such matters

"We would like a two rooms for the evening. My betrothed is called Ichijo Hisoka and I am called Okamoto Fumiko" She say bowing one more as the woman done the same, her eyes twinkled when she heard the last names "Yes, of course... I will give you the best rooms" she say urging them to follow her further into the inn

Toshi followed holding Yuu's hand, she didn't want to use their real names to be on the safe side, but she also knew the names she used where of noble households even in this era.

Cho stopped in front of one door and slid it open "Ichijo Sama" she say allowing Yuu to walk in, it was lavish, with a beautifully ornate writting dest, a bed, covered in silks of a lavished greens and reds, on the walls there would be wall scrolls and hangings "Will this please you?" she asked waiting for a reply

Initially, Yuu was confused about why Toshi had given the lady different names instead of using their real ones, but then he saw just how much the lady lit up right after the names were mentioned. He guessed they were the names of some well known humans, and he tried to play along. When they reached the room, he tried hard not to look so surprised so he wouldn't give them away. He had seen such rooms before, but this would be his first time to actually experience resting in one. "Yes, I think it is perfectly adequate, thank you," he tried to act like they had more than enough experience with such accommodations, but in a normal situation he would have jumped back in shock.

Cho bowed hearing what he said "I am pleased" she say, she hadn't realized that he wasn't use to such things. She then beconed Toshi to the room next door opening it, the room looked much the same as Yuu's "Okamoto Sama" she said, Toshi raised her hand cho fell silent "This room is perfect Sasaki San" she say her voice showing she was use to such lavish surroundings

Cho bowed to Toshi and walked off to deal with another guest, Closing her door she went next door to Yuu's room and walked in sliding the door behind her a smile on her face "What do you think?" she say tilting her head

Yuu collapsed, shaking on his knees, "This is...I...it's so much!" His eyes went around the room like a tourist in a foreign land. He just didn't know where he wanted to start exploring it. Then he stood up and randomly went around touching things with the exposed parts of his fingers, exploring and experiencing the feeling of the luxurious materials. He felt his human eyes weren't doing him much justice in the details of the room, so he shifted to his crow shape and started flying around the room and landed in random areas, tilting his head and moving his eyes across the room. Then he flew and landed on Toshi's shoulder, "They put a lot of effort into this room. It must have been really expensive."

Toshi watched him, he was like a baby seeing the world for the first time. she knelt at the table and followed his movements, but was suprised when he turned crow "Just don't caw" she giggled her hand going to her mouth as was proper

As he landed on her shoulder she looked at him for a seck before stroking his feathers she nodded "Yes, it would have, these rooms are reserved for nobles" she say contently, taking in the room herself, it was beautiful and she admired it as such

"It's nice," Yuu hopped off the shoulder and landed on the table, walking around on top before looking down. The surface was slick and he noticed it was somewhat reflective, noticing his own purple eyes, which he never knew he had. He had never seen anyone before with that color, but he now considered himself fortunate that there weren't as many oddities as there were with the other marked. Of course he looked like he had been roughed up more than the others. He was tempted to caw, but he held it back. Yuu looked up at Toshi, "I really don't feel like sleeping. What about you?"

Looked at him as he jamp onto the table and looked at himself "They really did do some awful things to you didn't they" she say noticing some of the aftermath on his wings "I don't see why... perhaps they where jealous of you" she say stroking his wings once more, she noticed his purple eyes and smiled "I like your eyes" she say gently to him, hearing his question she shook her head "I don't actually need to sleep... I'm dead remember" she say with a smile "It isn't required but now and then it is nice to dream when your waking moments are a nightmare" she say gently sighing

"And how are your injuries?" as far as Yuu knew, Toshi was just as badly injured as he was. He remembered the bruises and the blood from earlier, after the first time Ai had beaten her while he was around. At least he was glad that they wouldn't have to go through that again, where they were beaten for not doing things right or not following orders.

He thought that the outside world was a little strange, more strange than his discovery about his own appearance, and just a little scary especially when the bad people moved around in large groups. While he had a sword, it was definitely in no shape to do a serious battle against them, and even worse if they were experienced fighters since he was never trained in the art of battle. Of course, he'd have to take his tengu shape to be able to access his weapon.

Toshi blinked hearing him asking about her wounds "They still hurt, but i'll live" she said, but giggled right afterwards relizing what she said "I'll live" she giggled "Well as much as a spirit can" she say looking out the window at the sky "Somehow, there doesn't seem to be so many stars" her voice seemed disappointed she always thought there would be more

She went into her bag and brought out some parchment, an ink set and some calligraphy brushes "I'm going to teach you how to read and write" she say begining to make up the ink

"It must be cloudy tonight.." Yuu looked out the window as well. He could remember seeing more stars back at his home, and he could remember he used to be terrified of it because they looked like menacing eyes blazing in the sky to send curses down to those who dared to look back at them. Though he realized he didn't have much to lose and ended up getting used to it as time passed on.

Then he heard the grating sound from Toshi's ink preparation. He turned around and stared at the process in awe. Yuu never really had a use for reading or writing, since he got around well without it for most of his life. But the outside world seemed to make heavy use of it, as he saw as they passed through the place. "You're really going to teach me?" he walked across the table and took a look at the ink building up on the stone, wanting to take a nibble out of it and step on it for fun.

Nodded, continuing to make the ink "yes... It's always good to better yourself" she say happily placing the ink stone down and brought a calligraphy brush up and offered it to Yuu "You never know, if we cross paths with Kaito again, you can show him you are the same... that you can read, that you can write" she say contently picking up a brush of her own

"If you want you go into the in and stand on the parchment then go a head" she giggled waiting to see what he was going to do, he intreasted her but he still had so much doubt in himself, she wondered if he felt safe considering his abuser was out ther

Yuu would have blushed if he could, but the feathers and beak hid his emotions. He wiggled his toes, just imagining how the ink would feel on his skin. Then he tried to hold the brush with his beak, and did it rather clumsily, very tempted to take up Toshi's offer to hop into the ink and then right onto the paper. The brush was set on top of the table and he looked up, "Crow feet might not be so good for this..maybe I should change back so I can use my fingers instead."

Toshi was none the wiser on how he was feeling, though she watched him take the brush and tilted her head gigling slightly "I think it would be better to change... flying mught make it messy" she say smiling waiting him to change and taking the brush from her hand

Once this was done she took it very slowly and wrote his name "This says Yuu... try, just remember you won't get it perfect first time... but with practice there come perfection" she say happily, just wanting it to take it in small steps

Yuu followed the steps, but he did so carefully and slowly, like an artist who was a perfectionist. It came as a strange sensation, moving the brush across the parchment and seeing the trail of ink left behind by the strokes. After a minute, he had duplicated the previous writing and analyzed it to see if he was off anywhere, "Is this alright?"

Watched as as he slowly followed what she done, she watched the elegant movements of each stroke of the brush, she knew it's wouldn't be perfect but, she watched as he finished "It's really good, considering you aren't use to using such things" she say gently with a smile "We'll keep trying okay" she say gently writting his name once more, with no effort what so ever

His face turned red, realizing the large gap between their experience in writing. Toshi did her work so effortlessly and quickly, and it came out looking perfect..or at least it was in Yuu's eyes. He was close to sticking the brush into his mouth though since the main tool he did use for most of his life was a piece of wood that was meant to shove food into his mouth. The motion left a small black dot on his lower lip and he moved the brush across the paper to write his name again, "What about Toshi's name? It has more lines in it, right?"

Looked to him as he bracticed once again a blush coming to her cheeks, he was so cute when he tried so hard "Yuu, just listen to the wind allow it to guide your movements" she say gently, not knowing if it would help him any

Hearing him ask about her name she nodded "Yes" she said simply and began to slowly write her name so he could see how to do it, she unserstood how this must have been difficult for him but she was so happy with what he had done and how he was progressing so quickly

Wind? He didn't know that listening to the wind blowing would help him. He watched Toshi placing her name on the parchment, and it seemed a step up in complexity to him. He tried to write out her name, following the same motions that Toshi did, but at a slower pace. Though the time he finished, his stomach growled, and right before him was an edible piece of paper. He stared at it hungrily.

Watched him and nodded "Yes" she say gently closing her eyes "Don't think on what you are doing, trust the wind and your instincts to guide you" she say her brush on the paper she wrote 'Ai, Kaito, Yuu and Toshi; even though her eyes where closed she showed the same writting skill she had when her eyes where open

hearing his stomach growl she opened her eyes and giggled a little "perhaps we should go and ask Cho San if she could get us some food" she say gently placing her brush on the ink stone, she done the same with Yuu's before standing up "Remember she will bow first, you bow after... after her name use San" she say hoping he could take in the information.

Moving to her bag she brought out a set of swords "You'll need these and I would be honoured if you would wear them... they where my fathers" she say sliding them though his bet so the sat comfortably "Noble men all wear them" she say fixing her own wakazashi

Taking his hand she looked to him how he had changed since they had first met, she was proud to be part of it, but she knew it was more a want he wanted, not to be looked down upon, but to be proud like the rest of his race

((MAAAAPPPP where are you Chasm? xD *hunting*))

He saw Toshi creating more lines than what she originally showed him, and was curious about what they meant, but as soon as he was going to speak up Toshi had gotten him prepared to go back out with a small lesson on courtesy and also a new set of weaponry. He blushed, stroking the tip of the handle with his thumb. Oddly, he could sense that the blades were still lively, as though they were eager to be used once again, unlike his old blade which felt much like a dead stick. All the male tengu did have a set of blades that they carried with them at all times, and with this he was just one step closer to being like the rest. He smiled and bowed his head lightly, "Thank you Toshi, for all the things you've done for me. I owe you so much."

((I didn't think we had a chasm in the uk =O))

Pointed to the parchment "first set says Ai, next says Kaito, third says Yuu and the fourth is my name" she say gently, knowing he would be wondering what she had written.

she's step back admiring for a moment she seen how his thumb stroked the top of the hilt, by the glow of the blade and from the aura around him she seen the matching had been perfect and how happy they both where made her feel warm inside, though on seeing him bow his head she bowed lower only standing when his own had finished "I have done nothing for you but be a friend, as you have for me... you owe me nothing" she say her voice ringing with her conviction, she was just happy she could help him become what he wanted to be

"A friend.." Yuu liked the sound of the word. It was something he rarely heard, but it carried a good feeling with it. He was still tempted to eat the paper, but with Toshi around he was sure she'd rather have him eat something else, "Then shall we go?"

((CHASM IN UK!! ON MOTORCYCLES!! x'D))

"Yes a friend, just remember... not to draw the blade in the wants to harm anyone, only with the intent to protect" she say to him holding his hand she nodded "Okay Yuu... by the way... Ichijo is my family name" she say gently

She went to the door and opened it, taking his hand she headed downstairs where she seen cho reading "Cho San" she said politely as she bowed, Chow bowed slightly lower "Good evening Ichijo Sama, Okamoto Sama" she say brightly "How may I be of service?" she ask gently a smile coming to her face, cho stood when the bow was returned from Yuu

"We would like something to eat and drink. Do you happen yo have a room spare in your teahouse?" she asked in a manner that showed her noble birth but was still very respectful the older woman, bowing slightly she ushered them to a secluded room "Thank you Cho san" she say allowing cho to open the door before stepping in with Yuu, the door closing behind them

Being brought into another fancy room sent chills down his spine, but in a good way. Just over a day ago, he never would have imagined doing this. He was very grateful to whatever had drawn him to Toshi's home to begin with had done him a huge life-changing service. He played around with the idea of happily mingling with the normal tengu, without fear of his old identity or tribe association getting in the way.

He looked at Toshi and smiled, "Please, sit down first." He was certainly much more relaxed and happier than before.

Toshi bowed as she was offered to sit first she mived to the lower end of the table, after all he was the male, she was glad he was more happier and to her suprise even relaxed. She didn;t think she done that much to help him, though she was glad he wasn't eating doors anymore "How are you enjoying your new life?" she asked wanting to know his points of view and how he felt "Kaito wouldn't recognise you if he seen you now" she say closing her eyes she began to hum a tune that Kami would likely recognise

((The almighty Kami recognizes all of Toshi's tunes! Doot! xD))

Yuu sat down and shifted around until he was comfortable. It was true that there was certainly a dramatic change, in his clothes, weaponry, and his attitude, but he was certain that Kaito would have recognized him by his face since he was one of the tengu who had to go around in human form most of the time, "I think Kaito would still recognize my face, but I think he would be upset to know that you were doing all these good things for me." He chuckled, imagining just how much Kaito would squirm in his shoes just to see Yuu at the same level as him, or higher. Swords were especially important to the tengu, usually created to bear the family crest on it, and the decorations to match. The swords that Toshi gave him were far more exquisite; such is the difference between humans who share their knowledge with their neighbors compared to tengu who secluded themselves from other tribes.

He smiled, "I am enjoying this very much. I'm not looked down upon, I'm not punished brutally, just..everything is so much better...." Though he sighed shortly after, thinking about what happened to the other marked. Were they as lucky as he was? He wondered about it, "I hope that the other marked are doing well..if they had survived."